The French import Caro Buono had a decent introduction to American racing, closing with interest to finish fourth by three lengths in the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf at a mile on Sept. 7.
Caro Buono is back in action in Sunday’s Grade 3 Zuma Beach Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf at Santa Anita, a race that will determine whether he belongs in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Oct. 31 at Del Mar. There are indications Caro Buono has settled into a favorable routine in recent weeks, according to trainer Leonard Powell.
“Hopefully, he’s improved from his last race from what I’ve seen in the mornings,” Powell said.
Owned by Michael House, Caro Buono is part of a field of seven, all seeking their first stakes wins. Proletariat, third in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, will draw support, as will Stark Contrast and Medici, who finished first and second in a maiden race at a mile on turf on Sept. 6 at Del Mar.
In the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, Caro Buono finished behind Hey Nay Nay, who has been held out of the Zuma Beach by trainer John Sadler in favor of the BC Juvenile Turf. Caro Buono started from post 11 in a field of 13 in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf and raced wide for part of the race.
“It was a big field, and we did not have a favorable post position that day,” Powell said. “He was away a bit slowly, like most Euros their first time. I was very pleased with his stretch run.”
Medici was last of six in a six-furlong maiden race on dirt in his first start Aug. 3. He was a much brighter second in the Sept. 6 race, leading to the final sixteenth before losing by a length. By Into Mischief, Medici is out of the four-time stakes winner Avenge, who thrived in longer turf races in 2016 and 2017.
Trainer Richard Mandella said Medici “was a little strong” on Sept. 6 and will be fitted with blinkers that allow greater vision on Sunday. Despite being winless, a start in the Zuma Beach is worthwhile, he said.
“He improved so much,” Mandella said. “I thought we should see how good he is.”
Proletariat, trained by Jeff Mullins, is likely to race as a stalker. The Del Mar Juvenile Turf was Proletariat’s first start at a mile, preceded by a win in a five-furlong maiden race on turf Aug. 1.
“I think he should improve a little bit,” Mullins said.
Stark Contrast, who starts from the inside post in the Zuma Beach, has had the same career path as Medici. Stark Contrast was fourth ahead of Medici on Aug. 3 in his first start.
Trainer Michael McCarthy envisions Stark Contrast racing as a stalker Sunday.
“I would say he’s tactical,” he said. “He can bounce out of there and sit behind the pace. I’ve been looking forward to running him in this spot.”
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